Outdoor T&F Preview: Girls’ Jumping Events

Long Jump

If all our top returnees from 2022 compete this season we’ll have an impressive list, one that features five athletes that have exceeded 18 feet, including defending champion Kiyanni Simas of Milford. Simas, who also won the indoor state and New England titles last year, did not compete in the season-ending divisional championships and Meet of Champions (MOC) this past winter. With an all-time best of 19 feet, 1 inch on the indoor surface and an outdoor PR of 18-11, she can’t be ignored if she’s back in form. Of course the same could be said for Burlington’s Grace Hanafin, who was our indoor titlist at the MOC and leaped an all-time best of 19-1.5 at the Division 3 Championship. There’s also Middleboro’s Isable Wheeler (18-8), Wellesely’s Annie Comella (18-7.5), Durfee’s Shakira Cadet (18-3.5) and Winchester’s Tessa Geddes (18-0), to name a few, that had solid season this past winter and can be a factor this season.

Triple Jump

Cadet get the favorite nod in this event, The Durfee senior is the reigning outdoor champion with a PR of 38-11.5 from the MOC. Norwell’s Liliana MacDonald (37-5) and Lowell’s Annamaria Mbuyu (37-1.75), who took the 2-3 spots at MOC, are also coming back. A few others that were anticipating will be competing this spring have gone 36-plus with Bridgewater-Raynham Regional’s Nethica Auguste (36-4.25), Uxbridge’s Kathryn Cahill (36-4) and Nipmuc Regional’s Kyah Montano (36-3.25).

High Jump

Like it’s been most years, this event has a plethora of athletes that are capable of earning those top spots this season at the MOC. Among the leading candidates are recent indoor champion Haley McCormack of Tantasqua Regional and defending outdoor titlist Charlotte DiRocco of Concord-Carlisle, who both have PRs of 5-6. There’s also Peabody teammates Brianna Ewansiha and Lindsey Wilson, who also have cleared 5-6. Ewansiha was second to McCormack at the MOC this winter, while Wilson was a runner-up to DiRocco at the MOC last spring. Among others is Wilmington’s Mollie Osgood, who has a PR of 5-5 this winter and was sixth at MOC, and Newton North’s Kiran George and Reading’s Katie Caraco, who tied for third with DiRocco at the MOC in February with identical heights of 5-4.

Pole Vault

Last year’s MOC runner-up Melinda Haagensen has the target on her singlet this season, The Westborough senior was second to Westford Academy grad Megan Frazee at the championship meet with a PR of 11-6. Haagensen was consistent all of last spring with leaps ranging from 10-6 to her current best. She was the Division 3 champion and also placed fourth at the New England Championships where she cleared 11-3. Also returning this season are Natick teammates Noa Weinhaus and Alyssa Peasley, who tied for fifth at the MOC with bests of 10-6.